LIVE: Rahul visits Congress war room to oversee preparations for Raj polls

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday visited Congress war room here to oversee preparations for the Assembly elections. Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was also present during his visit. Co-in-charge Amrita Dhawan said that Gandhi motivated the team present at the war room.

The government is sending multivitamins, antidepressants and dry fruits to 41 workers trapped for the past seven days in an under-construction tunnel that collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, Road, Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain said on Sunday.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday said that although the air quality in Delhi has shown improvement in the past two days, people should remain vigilant and adhere to pollution control measures. Rai also recalled that the progress made just before Diwali due to rain and favourable meteorological conditions was compromised by people bursting firecrackers.

In the run-up to the big-ticket final clash between India and Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat on Sunday, Akasa Air Airlines issued a travel advisory saying that due to airspace closure at Ahmedabad, flights arriving and departing from the city may experience delays. "Due to airspace closure at Ahmedabad on 19th Nov 2023, between 13:15 hrs and 14:10 hrs on account of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 finals, flights arriving and departing from Ahmedabad may experience delays," the airline posted on X.

11:09 PM

Students, teachers among 30 injured as bus falls into ditch in UP's Bhadohi

Thirty people, including students and teachers of a private college in Basti district, were injured after a bus they were travelling in overturned and fell into a ditch here on Sunday, police said.

The accident occurred in the Aurai area of Bhadohi in the evening, they said.

Circle Officer (CO) Umeshwar Prabhat Singh said students of classes 9, 10 and 11 of Vivekanand Inter College located at Duboulia Bazar area of Basti district along with their teachers were on a two-day educational tour to Varanasi, Sarnath, Kashi and Vindhyachal.

11:07 PM

India's loss in finals can't diminish its dominance in World Cup: Congress

The Indian cricket team's loss in the finals cannot diminish its dominance in this World Cup tournament, the Congress said on Sunday. It also congratulated Australia for winning the World Cup.

India's thundering juggernaut came to a screeching halt in an anti-climactic finish as Australia denied a golden generation of Indian cricketers the silverware it so desperately craved by lifting an unprecedented sixth World Cup trophy in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

"Congratulations Australia. To our Men in Blue, a loss in the finals can't diminish the dominance you have displayed throughout the tournament. You have showcased character and true champion's spirit! Thank you for an incredible journey," the Congress said in a post its official X handle.

"You won our hearts India. Onward and upward" the party also said.

11:03 PM

Yemen's Houthi rebels hijack an Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea and take 25 crew members hostage

Yemen's Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in a crucial Red Sea shipping route on Sunday, officials said, taking over two dozen crew members hostage and raising fears that regional tensions heightened over the Israel-Hamas war were playing out on a new maritime front.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they hijacked the ship over its connection to Israel and took the crew as hostages. The group warned that it would continue to target ships in international waters that were linked to or owned by Israelis until the end of Israel's campaign against Gaza's Hamas rulers.

All ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets, the Houthis said.

10:48 PM

Independent candidate contesting T'gana poll ends life over online 'sextortion'

An independent candidate contesting the Telangana Assembly polls from Nizamabad Urban constituency, allegedly died by suicide linked to an online sextortion attempt by cyber fraudsters, who had threatened to upload his video on social media, police said on Sunday.

The cyber fraudsters had demanded the 30-year-old to give Rs 10 lakh and threatened that they would upload a video of him recorded during a video call with a woman, along with his nomination paper on social media platforms, they said.

The fraudsters had recorded the video call he had with the woman, police said.

The candidate was found hanging to the ceiling fan at his house in Nizamabad town on Saturday night by his family members, they said.

10:47 PM

PM found time to attend World Cup match in Ahmedabad, yet to visit violence-hit Manipur: Cong

The Congress on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he found time to attend the Cricket World Cup final match at Ahmedabad, but is yet to visit violence-hit Manipur.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the priorities of the prime minister are clear

"PM found time to be at the stadium in Ahmedabad he got named after himself. From tomorrow, he'll be back to abusing and defaming Congress in Rajasthan and Telangana. But still, he hasn't found it fit and proper to visit Manipur that is still tense and suffering. His priorities are clear," Ramesh said in a post on X.

7:37 PM

Punjab reports 740 fresh incidents of stubble burning

Punjab on Sunday reported 740 stubble burning incidents.

Air quality indices remained in 'very poor' and 'poor' categories in many parts of Haryana and Punjab.

Of 740 farm fires reported, Fazilka saw the maximum number of such cases at 151, followed by 127 in Moga, 100 in Ferozepur, 68 in Faridkot, 57 in Muktsar and 55 in Bathinda.

6:44 PM

Adityanath inspects preparations for PM Modi's Vrindavan visit

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inspected the preparations and security measures for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vrindavan on November 23.

On his visit to Vrindavan, Adityanath offered prayers at the Banke Bihari Temple and also paid a visit to the Madan Gopal temple.

The chief minister arrived at the Braj Raj Utsav Mela taking place at the Dholi Pyau Railway Ground and was welcomed by MP Hema Malini and other dignitaries, according to a statement from the state government.

5:56 PM

Railways should roll back dynamic pricing, give priority to safety of passengers: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said the railways should roll back dynamic pricing of train tickets, and pay more attention to the safety and security of travellers.

Banerjee, a former railway minister, claimed that train fares were sometimes higher than flight tickets, following reports that ticket costs rose astronomically this week on various routes during the ongoing festive season.

"Sad to find that railway passenger fares are steeply increasing and even in Suvidha trains the fares are sometimes higher than air fares!! Where will common people go in case of emergencies? she said on X.

5:56 PM

Entire cricket moved from Mumbai to Ahmedabad due to BJP politics, alleges Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed cricket had been moved from Mumbai, which was the nation's traditional powerhouse in the game, to Ahmedabad in Gujarat as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to hold a "political event".

Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, which is the world's largest cricket stadium with a capacity of 1.32 lakh, is currently hosting the final of the World Cup between India and Australia.

5:37 PM

Australian Dy PM, FM to reach India today to attend second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Defence Minister Richard Marles, along with the Foreign Affairs Minister of Australia Penny Wong, will travel to India today to attend the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi.

The Australian ministers will meet their counterparts in New Delhi.

Deputy Prime Minister Marles will also meet his Indian counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, to discuss "ways to continue driving forward the Australia-India defence relationship and discuss the shared challenges facing our region," the Australian Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

5:34 PM

'Caged parrot' Election Commission a sham, is favouring BJP, alleges Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the Election Commission of India had become a caged parrot and a sham and was "practising double standards in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party".

In his weekly column 'Rokthok' in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana', Raut also accused the BJP of resorting to religious propaganda to "bribe" voters after losing ground in five states where Assembly polls are being held (in November).

5:18 PM

Pawar, CM Shinde pay homage to Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary

NCP president Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were among prominent leaders who paid tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 106th birth anniversary.

Shinde paid floral tributes to the portrait of Indira Gandhi at his official residence in Mumbai and administered a National Unity Day pledge to mark the occasion.

Remembering Indira Gandhi, Pawar described her as a visionary who raised India's image abroad with her political astuteness.

5:12 PM

Indira Gandhi-led Cong govt plagued by starvation deaths, encounters, alleges Chandrasekhar Rao

BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday tore into Congress, alleging that the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's regime was plagued by starvation deaths, naxal movements and encounters.

Addressing rallies in the state, Rao, also known as KCR, said the Congress leaders should feel ashamed to seek votes as they were not able to provide drinking water during their rule even when the Krishna river was flowing nearby at Kollapur.

4:25 PM

Himachal govt to provide subsidy to those passing Amateur Radio licence test

In a bid to promote Amateur Radio (HAM) as an effective tool for alternate communication during emergencies, the Himachal Pradesh government has announced a subsidy up to Rs 60,000 for basic equipment to all persons who have passed the licensing examination to be HAM operators.

"A wireless communication network through Amateur Radio is one of the most effective and alternative means of communication. The skills of a trained amateur radio operator can be used for public service in times of need and emergency, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a statement issued here on Sunday.

4:25 PM

J-K Congress pays tributes to former PM Indira Gandhi on birth anniversary

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress on Sunday paid tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 106th birth anniversary and accused BJP-led central government of making desperate attempts to undermine the contribution of the party stalwarts.

Congress members led by Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani assembled at Indira Chowk and garlanded the statue of Gandhi.

"The nation reached great heights due to her courageous decisions and progressed on all fronts despite facing numerous challenges," Wani said.